4 Steps to the Best-Ever Margarita

The level of difficulty is low and the ingredients are few, but paying attention to the details is essential when you're making a margarita. Fix up the best margarita ever with our four step guide.

Image Credit: Jamie Chung

1. Squeeze it

The single most important ingredient is fresh lime juice. Use any gadget you like--just please don't twist open a screw cap. For parties, juice the limes ahead and fill a squeeze bottle to keep at the ready.

Always drink tequila made from 100 percent blue agave. It just tastes better. In Margaritas, use only blanco (a.k.a. silver or white) tequilas, which have a peppery, vegetal kick that won't get buried when mixed. Save your aged reposados for sipping.

Image Credit: Aimee Herring

4. Take it with a grain of...

Salt brings out the flavor in everything, but too much can be overwhelming. So we only salt halfway around the rim and are careful not to get any in the drink.

Image Credit: Aimee Herring

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Cocktail geeks may swoon at the first sip of an expertly calibrated Manhattan or go on and on about the balance of a proper Martini, but we're ready to bestow a little love on one of the best libations north or south of the border: the Margarita. It's time you learned how to make one the right way. Margaritas concocted with store-bought sweet-and-sour mix (or, worse, a popular diet brand) arrive DOA: a sad glass of sugary water. When made with fresh lime juice, however, the Margarita is a revelation. We're serious about ridding the world of bad Margaritas, so here is our definitive recipe and everything else you need to know to master this summer's go-to cocktail.

Check out the slideshow above to learn step-by-step how to make the best margarita.